The latest beverage trend is far from clean – and it’s raising red flags with doctors. Known as a “dirty soda,” it’s a soft drink that also includes a combination of added ingredients, such as flavored syrups, creamers, fruit juices, and other garnishes. The result is a sweet beverage that’s a combination of a soda, … Read more
Alkaline water has entered the conversation as an arguable alternative to regular drinking water. Numerous celebrities, including Gwyneth Paltrow, Mark Wahlberg and Jennifer Aniston, have touted alkaline water in brand campaigns, but is there a real benefit? Experts report that the science is uncertain. Bottled water that’s sold as alkaline water may have added minerals like calcium … Read more
If you’re looking to extend the caffeine buzz from your daily coffee, a taste of grapefruit might do the trick. Grapefruit contains a chemical that interacts with other substances, which is why doctors caution against pairing it with dozens of medications. The chemical works by blocking an enzyme in the digestive system that helps break down certain … Read more
Two of the most influential voices in U.S. nutrition guidance are aligned on the basics, yet they diverge on two major cooking ingredients: butter and beef tallow. As traditional cooking fats, butter and beef tallow infuse flavor into dishes and can make meals more satisfying, but they are calorie-dense. The 2025–2030 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, developed by the … Read more
Gen Z is finally waking up and realizing that they were mass-prescribed antidepressants without much consideration for the long-term side effects. Among them is Ella Emhoff, the 26-year-old stepdaughter of Kamala Harris, who recently took to TikTok to express concern that she’s having difficulty coming off of SSRIs herself. “I’ve been on SSRIs for over … Read more
They’re up s–t creek without a plunger. Just when you thought it was safe to get back in the water: A picturesque California beach is at risk of being shuttered amid a deluge of sewage from Mexico that’s befouled the coastline. “It was heaven on Earth, and now I call it paradise lost,” Whitney David, … Read more
Ford is recalling almost 1.4 million of its F-150 pickup trucks in the US because of a gearshift issue that may lead to the loss of control of vehicles and increasing the risk of a crash. The automaker is aware of two injuries and one accident possibly related to the issue. The recall includes F-150 … Read more
Reaching for the salt shaker at the kitchen table may seem like second nature for some — but it could reveal troubling details about your health. Recent Brazilian research, published in the journal Frontiers in Public Health, investigated the impact of adding salt to food with a focus on older adults. The study used national survey data … Read more
Older travelers who may be limited in their dexterity should be spread out across a flight’s seating — not just for their own safety, but for the safety of everyone on board, scientists say. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) requires aircraft to be able to evacuate within 90 seconds in case of an emergency — but as … Read more
More good news in the battle against opioid addiction. Scientists have reopened research into a class of opioids that were once shelved from study — and have discovered a variant that’s a powerful pain reliever, but potentially much safer for sustained use. Though research into nitazenes, a long-overlooked synthetic opioid compound, was cut short in … Read more
Tiger Woods allegedly had two hydrocodone pills in his left pant pocket when he flipped his Land Rover in Florida and was subsequently arrested on DUI charges last Friday. While the drug is prescribed to treat chronic pain or manage pain after surgery or injury, using it is not without risks — and serious ones at … Read more
A popular class of weight-loss drugs may prevent life-threatening cardiac complications by opening microscopic blood vessels that often remain blocked after a heart attack, according to a study published this week in Nature Communications. The research, led by the University of Bristol and University College London, identified a biological brain-gut-heart signaling pathway. This discovery appears to explain … Read more
Why scream into the void when you can talk to the machine? These days, tech-obsessed folks are turning to artificial intelligence for just about everything — job hunting, romance, shopping, and, of course, therapy. While speaking to a human therapist has become more normalized for all, new research suggests that men would rather turn to … Read more
It might be time to rethink that little pill in your medicine cabinet. A new study casts doubt on the idea that regularly taking an over-the-counter painkiller can help ward off colorectal cancer — at least for the general population. Worse, researchers warn that the daily habit carries “immediate risks,” including a higher chance of … Read more
Talk about a bloody mess. OB-GYNs are in a cramp over a viral idea that’s taken over TikTok: that you can simply “scoop out” your period to avoid the messiness that comes once a month. But docs have been quick to debunk and demystify what’s actually going on down there. A viral claim that women … Read more
A bill introduced in Florida takes aim at paper drinking straws and stirrers at food businesses and restaurants. Senate Bill 958 was introduced Dec. 18 — with an identical House bill, HB 2195, introduced Dec. 26 — to limit what cities and counties can do to regulate drinking straws and stirrers. “Many businesses and communities in this … Read more
As snow blanketed parts of the US this week, heart health experts have shared warnings of the physical strain shoveling can take — particularly for older adults. A 2025 Mayo Clinic review found that just 10 minutes of heavy snow shoveling can push the heart to about 97% of its maximum rate. Exposure to cold air … Read more
High hopes for medical cannabis are going up in smoke. A bombshell new report found “insufficient evidence” to back up most of its supposed benefits — and raised serious red flags about hidden risks. “Patients deserve honest conversations about what the science does and doesn’t tell us about medical cannabis,” Dr. Michael Hsu, an addiction … Read more
Pump the brakes! As fitfluencers push powerlifting, weight training and “whatever it takes” to get toned, more women are turning to steroids to beef up their bods. Research suggests that about 4% of women have used anabolic steroids at least once, up from 1.6% a decade ago. There are certainly benefits of strength training for … Read more
Shannon Buck was starting to feel hopeless. For four years, she’d been trying to have a baby with husband Ryan — but natural conception, which seemed to come so easily to everyone around them, and sometimes even accidentally, just wasn’t happening for the would-be parents. Shannon and Ryan Buck spent several years trying to get pregnant … Read more